Refugees fundraiser
Montagnards cannot return to Central Highlands. If they do, they will be silently persecuted by the Vietnam government. They left the Central Highlands because they can no...
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- Bahnar
- Jarai
- Rhade
- Sedang
- Mnong
- Stieng
- Koho
- Katu
- Jeh
- Hre
- Cua
- Chru
- Roglai
- Brou
- Halang
- Rengao
- Chrau
- Ma
What was taken from us
In 1946 the Dega had a country
The decree of May 27, 1946 established the Pays Montagnard du Sud-Indochinois, a federal government for the Dega on the lands of our ancestors. Vietnamese governments took that country from us, and the world now calls it the Central Highlands.
1946our country recognized
The country we lost
The Montagnard Country of South Indochina
Our country reached from the 17th parallel to the borders of Cochin China. Within it, and across today's borders into Cambodia and Laos, lived some thirty peoples, each with its own language and land. Choose a number to meet them.
Quang Tri · into Laos Bru
Also called Van Kieu. The mountains of Quang Tri around Khe Sanh, and west across the range into Laos.
A Luoi · Salavan Ta-Oi
The A Luoi valley west of Hue, and across the border into Salavan in southern Laos.
West of Hue Pacoh
The mountains west of Hue, neighbours of the Ta-Oi and the Katu.
Near the Katu Phuong
A small highland community in the hills between the Pacoh and the Katu.
Into southern Laos Katu
The mountains west of Da Nang and Quang Ngai, and over the range into southern Laos, where related Dega communities also live.
Dak Glei · into Laos Jeh
Also written Gie-Trieng. The mountains north of Kon Tum around Dak Glei, and over the border into Laos.
Western Quang Ngai Cua
The mountains of western Quang Ngai around Tra Bong, looking down toward the coast.
North of Kon Tum Sedang
The mountains north of Kon Tum, where French exploration of our homeland began in 1876 and missionaries opened a mission in the heart of the highlands.
Outsiders arrive
Near Kon Tum Rengao
A small people living between the Bahnar and the Sedang around Kon Tum, with a language close to both.
Where three borders meet Halang
The borderland west of Kon Tum, where Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia meet, and into Attapeu in Laos.
Pleiku · Ratanakiri Jarai
The largest of the highland peoples, on the Pleiku plateau and west across the border into Ratanakiri. The Ja of BAJARAKA: its founders were moved here, and here more young people joined the movement.
The BAJARAKA movement
Kon Tum · An Khe Bahnar
Around Kon Tum and east toward An Khe, where villages gather around the rong, the tall communal house. The Ba of BAJARAKA.
Read more
Ratanakiri, Cambodia Kreung
The hills of Ratanakiri in northeastern Cambodia, neighbours of the Tampuan and the Brao.
Phu Yen hills Hroi
Also called Cham Hroi. The hills of western Phu Yen and Binh Dinh, highlanders whose language is close to Cham.
Ratanakiri, Cambodia Tampuan
Ratanakiri in northeastern Cambodia, around the crater lake of Yeak Laom, which is sacred to them.
Ratanakiri · Attapeu Brao / Kavet
The forests of northern Ratanakiri along the Sesan and Sekong rivers, and across the border into Attapeu in Laos.
Ban Me Thuot Rhade
The people of the Darlac plateau, also called Ede. The French set up the first Dega administration here in 1899, and BAJARAKA began at Buon Ale A.
Read more
Eastern Kratie, Cambodia Stieng
Along both sides of the border north of Saigon and west into eastern Kratie, one of the peoples whose land the frontier cut through.
Southern plateau, Vietnam Bunong
Also called Mnong. The southern plateau of the homeland, between Darlac and the border with Cambodia, and across it into Mondulkiri.
Stieng subgroup Bulach
A subgroup of the Stieng, close kin of the Stieng of eastern Kratie.
Mondulkiri, Cambodia Bunong / Pnong
The same people on the Cambodian side of the border, in Mondulkiri, also called Pnong. Many Dega communities here were pushed westward over time.
Behind Nha Trang · Phan Rang Raglai
The mountains behind Nha Trang and Phan Rang. Their language is close to Cham, and they are among the southernmost highland peoples.
Lang Biang · Dalat Koho
The Lang Biang plateau around Dalat. The Ka of BAJARAKA, and in 1958 its arrested leaders were held in underground cells in Dalat.
Read more
Between Dalat and Phan Rang Churu
The valley between Dalat and Phan Rang, around Don Duong. Neighbours of the Koho, they speak a language close to Cham.
Bao Loc · Dong Nai river Ma
Along the Dong Nai river around Bao Loc, south of the Koho, to whom they are closely related.
Phan Rang · Phan Thiet Cham
The coast around Phan Rang and Phan Thiet, heirs of the kingdom of Champa. In FULRO, the Cham and the highland peoples stood together.
Dong Nai · Xuan Loc Cho Ro
Also called Chrau. The forests of Dong Nai around Xuan Loc, at the southern edge of the highlands.
Nothing matches your search.
At a glance
A people rooted in the highlands
3.5M
Dega under French rule
Estimated at 3 to 3.5 million during the colonial period.
32
Tribes and languages
From the Bahnar, Jarai and Rhade to the Sedang, Mnong and Stieng.
40+
Indigenous groups
Still living in the Central Highlands.
2,000+
Years in the highlands
Our villages stood here long before any modern border.
Our history
How the Dega lost their country
From free highland villages to a country recognized in 1946, then taken by Vietnamese governments.
-
01 Before 1800 Free highland villages
For more than two thousand years we farmed, hunted, travelled and worshipped by our own customs. Our people once held most of southern Indochina, until the coast was taken and we joined those in the mountains.
A peaceful life -
02 1815 to 1899 Outsiders arrive
Missionaries reached Kontum, and from 1876 the French explored our lands. In 1899 they created an autonomous Dega administration in Darlac, in the land of the Rhade.
Welcomed outsiders -
03 May 27, 1946 A country of our own
France established a federal government for the Montagnard peoples of southern Indochina: the Pays Montagnard du Sud-Indochinois. Our people were full of hope.
Dega government -
04 1950 to 1951 A promise, then a handover
The highlands became the Crown Domain under Bao Dai, with a charter promising free development by our own customs. We were never asked.
Read more -
05 1954 to 1957 Our country taken
Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel. President Ngo Dinh Diem merged our country into South Vietnam, named us minorities in our own homeland, and resettled 850,000 people from the north in its heart.
Pushed off our land -
06 1957 to 1964 BAJARAKA
Young leaders named the movement for the Bahnar, Jarai, Rhade and Kaho. After its demonstrations in September 1958 its leaders, Y-Bham Enuol among them, were imprisoned until 1964.
The BAJARAKA movement -
07 1975 to today Still fighting for our country
Hanoi's government took control of the highlands and kept the same policies. The Dega still fight for the Montagnard Country of South Indochina, and for the few hundred thousand of our people who remain there.
How we died
Who we are
We are the Dega. The Montagnard Country of South Indochina is our country, and we have never given it up.
Dega Central Highlands Organization
Who are the Dega 
Why we fight
Millions once. A few hundred thousand today.
Under French rule the Dega were estimated at 3 to 3.5 million. War, and the rule of those who took our country, have left a few hundred thousand in the highlands.
How we died
01 Given by the French
Montagnards
The French called us Montagnards, the mountain people, because for centuries we had been driven from the coast into the mountains.
What we do
Four ways we fight for our people
For our country, for those still in the highlands, and for Dega families wherever they live.
Speak for our country
We bring the cause of the Montagnard Country, and reports from Dega communities, to governments, human rights bodies and the press.
Latest news
Keep our culture alive
Gong music, brocade weaving and our many languages, passed from one generation to the next.
Dega culture
Stand with refugees
Families who fled the highlands get help to rebuild their lives far from home.
Help a family
Bring our people together
Congresses, conferences and services keep Dega families connected wherever they live.
See our eventsPassing it on
Carrying our culture to the next generation
At home and abroad, elders pass our stories, music and crafts to the young.
Stories
Learning our history
Elders tell the young about the country we lost, so they know where they come from and what we fight for.
Read our history
Our heritage
A living culture
Music, crafts and daily life in the country we call home.
Give
Help families who fled the highlands
See how far we have come. Every gift is counted here as soon as it is paid.
Latest news
News from the highlands
Reports from the Central Highlands and from Dega communities around the world.
Get involved
Three ways to stand with the Dega
- 01
- 02
- 03
Give to the Dega people
Help a family find safe ground
Your gift helps refugees from the Central Highlands rebuild their lives and keeps their story heard.
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